Professor Emeka Aniagolu, a Nigerian lecturer residing in the United States, strongly objected to the 2009 decision by the Nigerian government to remove history from the curricula of basic and secondary schools. Aniagolu, an African history Teacher in Ohio, voiced his worry that the next generation could become socially amnesic if they are not taught about their heritage. He made this observation during the pre-launch of his book “A Tale of Ikenga,” which is a history of the Igbo people. Many young Nigerians, especially those who are joining the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), were not familiar with or born during the Nigerian Civil War.
According to him, students are deprived of critical perspective and the potential to learn from past mistakes when history is removed from the curriculum. Aniagolu’s critique follows three months after Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president, called the teaching of history in schools a “disaster.” In response to widespread popular outcry, history was reinstated in the Curriculum in 2020 after the federal government had removed it in 2009 due to a lack of history teachers. Nevertheless, Aniagolu worries that young Nigerians have been negatively impacted by the 13-year lapse in history instruction.
One of the most important periods in Nig.’s history is still the Civil War.
As an illustrative case of the perils of historical ignorance, he related an incident in which a youthful assistant of his failed to identify former President Yakubu Gowon. He made a comparison between this and the Educational System in the United States, where indoctrination into history has made historical personalities such as George Washington famous. The significance of history in creating a well-rounded society is frequently emphasised by historians and educators. Eminent Nigerian historian Dr. Toyin Falola has maintained that by setting contemporary problems in a broader context, history offers a framework for comprehending them.
In a nation as complex as Nigeria, where ethnic tensions and memories of violence, such as the Nigerian Civil War, are still raw, he and Aniagolu have expressed worry that a lack of historical knowledge can result in bad decision-making. One of the most important periods in Nigeria’s history is still the Civil War, which broke out between 1967 and 1970. A secessionist attempt by the Igbo region in the southeast to secede and create the independent state of Biafra led to the war, also known as the Biafran War.
It is imperative that youths comprehend lessons learnt from the conflict.
Over a million people died in the struggle, mostly from famine, and its consequences on Nigeria’s political, economic, and social fabric were long-lasting. It is imperative that young Nigerians comprehend the origins, effects, and lessons learnt from the conflict, as it illuminates the perils of ethnic discrimination, poor political leadership, and unbridled military might. In addition to teaching youth about the dangers of secessionist movements like IPOB, teaching them about the Civil War would also help them understand the need of national cohesion, unity, and discourse.
Conversely, the Nigerian government had justifications for removing history from the syllabus in 2009. A practical concern—namely, the lack of qualified history teachers—formed the basis of the decision. There was a shortage of educators, according to the administration of former President Musa Yar’Adua, because graduates showed little interest in teaching history. Additionally, the government believed that enhancing STEM Education was a more urgent requirement for the advancement of the country at the time.
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Although this reasoning was based on the needs of a society that was modernising quickly, opponents such as Aniagolu and Obasanjo contend that the lack of history has inadvertently caused a gulf in knowledge and Culture among the younger generation. In 2020, the government decided to rectify the mistake and restore history to the school curriculum in response to these protests, recognising the importance of protecting the country’s legacy. Though many young Nigerians still don’t have a solid understanding of their country’s complicated history, the harm done over the 13-year lapse is still a source of disagreement.